Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2608872 
Journal Article 
Experimental study of fluidized bed agglomeration of acerola powder 
Dacanal, GC; Menegalli, FC 
2008 
1 
Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering
ISSN: 0104-6632
EISSN: 1678-4383 
25 
1 
51-58 
WOS:000255631500006 
The aim of this work was to study the main effects of acerola powder on fluidized bed agglomeration. A 2(4-1) fractional factoring design was used to evaluate the main operating conditions (fluidizing air temperature, fluidizing air velocity, atomizing air flow and height of nozzle in the bed). The mechanical and physicochemical product changes were determined by analysis of particle diameter, moisture content, wetting time and bed porosity. The particle enlargement by agglomeration occurred when the relative humidity in the bed increased and, thus, the moisture of the product increased. However, the excessive increase in relative humidity resulted in a decrease in yield, caused by caking and product incrustation. The consolidation of small granules resulted in an increase in the instant properties, decreasing the wetting time and increasing the solubility in a short period of agitation. 
agglomeration; granulation; fluid bed; acerola; powder